The appliqued pieces look great, featured by themselves against the contrasting "gravel" background.
Anyone can easily see the tandem bike riders, since the eyes can focus on them, and not a busy background of a riot of color.

Thanks everyone. Hope to get it sandwiched this weekend. DH is running in the Mercedes Marathon tomorrow (...19 degrees at the start...) so we will have to leave for Birmingham at 4. That will take most of the day tomorrow.